THE WIDER Uniting Church has been
challenged to identify and raise up
future leaders – particularly those who
may be suitable for ministry.
Nationally the Uniting Church is
facing a severe shortage of ministers in
the next few years.
The situation is no less critical in
South Australia.
About a third of the 150 ministers
and deacons in placement in SA will
either retire or turn 65 in the next six
years.
Uniting Church SA pastoral relations
and placements executive officer Rev
David Buxton said the shortage is
compounded by the fact that ministers
are tending to train later in life and
retire early.
“So the ones we are training have a
much shorter formal ministry lifespan,”
he said.
“Presently we have an average of six
or seven ministers retiring each year
and only two or three graduating from
Parkin Wesley Theological College.”

These Parkin-Wesley students are interested in ministry. They are, from left, Titus Ng, Matthew Stuart and Athena Tanti.

David cautions that, while the church
faces a significant ministerial shortage,
that does not mean we can afford to be
less selective.
“We need people with character,
chemistry and competence,” he said.

inside…
Meet the exit students

2

The drought

3

Open letter to Australians

4

‘Doing it like Jesus’

5

Has ecumenism lost its punch?

6

Religion promotes peace

7

Clmate change

8

Seniors awards

12

“What I’d be looking for in an
applicant is someone with a passion for
ministry and a strong sense of call to
one of the specified ministries.
“Applicants need to have
demonstrated gifts in ministry and
already be engaging in ministry at a
local level, so the church can have
confidence that they are able to do the
job.
“They also need a demonstrated
capacity to cope with academic study
and high emotional intelligence.”
David said he is also concerned about
“self selection” where people hear an
“inner call” to ministry.
CULTURAL HUB: Daniel Goodluck, left, and Thon Arok, of Mitcham Uniting Church,
look through one of the old fences that would come down in a plan to form a
Cultural and Historical Hub at Mitcham. The present church, the old church and
historical buildings in the area would be part of the hub. See story page 3.

“There must also be an outer call,
where the church recognises that
someone has the gifts and skills, as
well as the passion and capacity to be
effective in ministry,” he said.
Continued page 2.

Please hand out at your church door

2

NEWS

New Times

A challenge: ‘Raise up new leaders’

From page 1

“Ministry is a serious and difficult
task and we don’t want people who
won’t cope when the going gets tough.
“The wider church needs to start
tapping people on the shoulder, and
asking them to consider a vocation in
ministry.
“This kind of intentional
encouragement is the best way. It’s a
method where people are identified by
others who are older, wiser and more
experienced.”
The church is also keen to encourage
younger people into ministry studies,

rather than the present tendency
toward mature age students with life
skills.
“The criterion of people needing
more life skills is possibly an unhelpful
filter,” David said.
“We need younger people. Our
present ministerial exit students range
in age from their 30s to their early 50s.
“We would prefer to see people
exiting college in their late 20s or early
30s – that way they will have
a much longer formal ministry
life span.”
David said there are many reasons

why younger people are not considering
ministry as a vocation.
“Some are afraid that they will be
on call 24/7. They are worried about a
perceived lack of flexibility, and they
also know that the church is generally
aging and has some congregations
where individuals exercise significant
control which is not always helpful.
“However there are many positives.
To see lives transformed is a wonderful
thing. The gospel of Jesus Christ
changes lives and brings hope to many.
“We are also invited into people’s
homes and share the rites of passage

– births, baptisms, weddings and death.
These are amazing privileges.
“There’s also the privilege of learning,
of constantly exploring new ideas and
discovering what God is saying in this
world. And in all of that there is a
sense that God can make a difference
in this world and that God’s hand has
been put on us in order that we might
be part of that cause.
“The church also has connections
in many places – so there are
opportunities to serve in other cultures
overseas and visit communities on
short-term mission exposure trips.”

Meet our latest exit students
ONE THING our latest ministry
exit students have in common
was their initial reluctance to
“heed the call”.
The six students are due to
complete their studies either at
the end of this year or midway
through 2007.
All will graduate with
Bachelors of Theology,
except for Peter Wait, who
will complete a Bachelor of
Ministry and is continuing
to study for a Master of
Theological Studies.
Barry Littleford, Jane
McDonald and Diana Bartlett
are seeking to be ordained as
Ministers of the Word.
Peter Wait and Cate Baker
will both become Deacons.
(In general terms Ministers
of the Word are involved in
congregational ministry and
Deacons are usually more
involved in community work).
Rob Morgan will become a
Lay Pastor.

• Barry Littleford said he
had a sense of call 15 years
ago – “but at that time I didn’t
think I could do it. God had to
really encourage me.”
Barry is working as a youth
pastor at Spicer Uniting
Church. He is looking forward
to the blessings and challenges
of ministry.
“I’m particularly interested
in helping churches to become
strong and healthy,” he said.
He has previously worked in
schools ministry and also as a
plumber and gas fitter. Barry
has two children.
• Jane McDonald was
involved in lay ministry and
felt a restlessness that God
wanted her to do more.
“It was a call I couldn’t
ignore, but I followed it
reasonably reluctantly,” she
said.
“I’m interested in
empowering lay people

in ministry and also in
community outreach work.”
Jane will start working as a
ministry intern in five linked
congregations in the South
West Fleurieu in January.
Before starting ministry
studies Jane was involved
in paramedical work for
Community Health in Minlaton
on the York Peninsula. She has
two children.
• Peter Wait describes his
call as a sense that he had gifts
that would be useful in the
Ministry of Deacon.
He has been serving as a
voluntary chaplain at Yatala
Prison for the past three and a
half years.
“It’s a great place to do
ministry,” he said. “The needs
are obvious and you feel very
needed and wanted.”
Peter previously worked in
scientific research and as a
high school maths teacher.
• Diana Bartlett said she
felt the call about 10 years ago
when she was on a retreat with
her minister.
“God told me that I was to
go into ministry, and I felt a
persistent tapping that didn’t
go away until I started my
ministry studies,” she said.
Diana has been serving as
a voluntary chaplain with
SAPOL for the past six and a
half years.

Latest ministry exit students (l to r) Barry Littleford, Jane McDonald,
Peter Wait, Diana Bartlett, Rob Morgan and Cate Baker.
She has been studying
theology for the past eight
years and also raising four
children.
• Rob Morgan has a father,
father-in-law and uncle
who are all Uniting Church
ministers.
“I was also heavily involved
in the church, and people kept
telling me that I would be a
great pastor,” he said.
He originally trained and
worked as a nurse. He has also
been involved in ministry in
New Guinea.

“I was even a dairy farmer
at one point,” he said. Rob has
two children.
• Cate Baker was also a
nurse and spent some time
working in mission in the
Philippines.
She was told 10 years
ago that she would become
a deacon – “and the idea
wouldn’t go away”.
Cate is volunteering at
Prospect Road Uniting Church
where she is helping to
establish a primary health care
facility to create wellbeing.

A hard but rewarding life
THIS YEAR for the first time the Uniting Church
SA held a “Ministers’ Day” for ministers and
deacons in placements and for those serving in
other ministry related roles.
The church’s Pastoral Relations and
Placements executive officer David Buxton said
the day was introduced to encourage ministers
to look after themselves – physically and
emotionally.
“Under their Code of Ethics, ministers have a
responsibility for self-care, but many aren’t good
at it,” he said.
NOVEMBER 2006

“We recognise that it’s a joint responsibility
and we’re doing what we can to encourage
ministers to strike a healthy balance between
their private and working lives.
“Some of the mission networks have also
been good at supporting their ministers
through various events.
“There are times when some of our ministers
have forgotten that the Messiah actually
took time out. They go round trying to save
the world and end up killing themselves and
damaging others along the way.”

NEWS

New Times

3

Moderator writes on the drought
MODERATOR, Rev Graham Vawser,
has appealed to church members to
pray for rural communities – and not to
waste water.
He said the Uniting Church is looking
at how it can help drought victims.
Graham made his appeal in a
pastoral letter sent to all Uniting
Churches in SA.
The letter said:
ALL PEOPLE in South Australia
are aware of the serious difficulties
being caused by the drought we are
experiencing. Weather forecasts, and
media reports, make it quite clear that
the situation for people on the land is
increasingly desperate.
In travelling through the state, I (and
others from the Church Office) have

seen first-hand how poorly the land is
coping with the prolonged dry spell

We have heard from people in many
places about the problems they face
financially, emotionally and spiritually.
We are eager to let people in rural
communities feel that their needs are
uppermost in our hearts and prayers.
People working in the Church Office,
particularly in the Mission Resourcing
Network and through the Resources
Board, are looking at ways in which
the Uniting Church can offer assistance
during this time.
To provide an atmosphere in which
this reflection can take place, I call on
all people involved with the Uniting
Church to join in prayer for the rural
communities.

Please pray for:
• Farming families and rural
communities.
• Ministers, church leaders and
counsellors in rural congregations.
• Community leaders at local, state
and federal level as they consider and
respond to needs.
• God’s continued blessing of rain
and sun, to make the earth fruitful.
In worship, and in your personal
devotions, pray for God’s forgiveness
on all abuse of the earth’s resources.
Particularly to people in urban areas
of SA, I would ask that you think about
ways in which you might stand in
fellowship with people in need:
• Take care not to waste water
– remember those who must cart water

for drinking, cooking and washing.
• Look for ways to reduce energy use,
and avoid activities that will contribute
to global warming.
• Be aware of the financial
difficulties of others (particularly in
rural areas) and avoid extravagant
spending.
• Consider ways in which you can
communicate your concern to people in
rural communities.
As followers of Christ, let us be
careful stewards of the resources of this
earth, and let us continue to support
one another in adversity as in hope.
Grace and Peace
Rev Graham Vawser, Moderator,
Presbytery and Synod of South
Australia.

Cultural hub,
new outreach
PARTS OF the Mitcham Uniting Church complex look set to be
incorporated in a proposed Cultural and Historical Hub.
The church is set in a cluster of historic buildings.
Discussions began in October 2005 about the proposed
$650,000 development. It may include the Mitcham Village Arts
and Craft Centre, Mitcham Village Institute, the former police
station and cells and parts of the adjacent Mitcham Uniting
Church property.
It’s anticipated that the original church and hall and a portion
of the existing netball courts will be integrated in the hub. Fences
will be pulled down between the various properties and the area
enhanced with paving and landscaping. The Cultural Hub will
have a village environment where residents can enjoy art, craft,
history, woodwork, drama, dance, theatre, garden and spiritual
fulfilment.
The Mitcham City Council and the Mitcham Uniting Church
Council have approved the development in principle. Its future
hinges on community feedback. The City Council has undertaken
an extensive community consultation process and a full report is
about to be prepared. Church Council deputy chairperson Graham
Crawford said the development will be a wonderful opportunity.
“We’re offering the use of our space and getting some improved
facilities in return,” he said. “But the main advantage will be the
opportunities provided for outreach. It will bring the community
into the church and the church into the community.”

Church Council deputy chairperson Graham Crawford with youth coordinator, Matt Boundy, outside the old
Mitcham church.
world school

annesley college

New connections

junior school

Learning is an individual experience.
At Annesley College we recognise the unique needs of every one of our girls.
The Junior School provides a stimulating yet challenging environment where girls
are valued, secure, confident and happy.

Annesley Junior School (K-6) features the Primary Years Program of the
International Baccalaureate and a specialist curriculum in the Arts (Visual Arts,
Drama, Dance, and Music), Physical Education and Language (German, French, and

SCHOOL

Japanese). Our co-educational Kindergarten accepts students from 3 years of age.

JUNIOR

Mitcham’s Minister Rev Tony Goodluck is delighted by the
proposal. The real benefit for the church will be in building
connections with the wider community, he said. The congregation
has about 100 regular worshippers, many in their senior years.
Tony said the congregation is keen to encourage even more
“community flow” through the property. “We’re talking with lots
of different groups about how we can work cooperatively and
share our facilities,” he said. “We’re allowing a theatre company
to use our hall to stage productions and run theatre workshops.
“The theatre group also has ties with a ‘Work for the Dole’
program – these people are helping build stage props.
“We’re hoping our old church may also be used as an art
gallery, either by the local city council or the theatre group.
“There are six netball courts on the property. They’re used for
netball in the summer and basketball during the winter.
“We also run a kids club on Wednesday nights during school
term time, called MUCK Around. The kids who come along may
never attend Sunday school, but we always include a short story
and a song, so they will get the message that God loves them.
“We want to do everything we can to equip kids with tools so
that, at critical times in their lives, they will have something to
draw on.”

We welcome families to view the Junior School to gain an understanding of this
unique individual experience.
To arrange an individual tour, or for a prospectus, please contact
the Director of Admissions, Meg Craven, on Tel. 08 8422 2291
or email admissions@annesley.sa.edu.au

An open letter to all Australians
AN ANANGU woman from the
Pukatja community in the Anangu
Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands of
northwest South Australia has written
an open letter to Australians to explain
what is happening in her community.
Makinti Minutjukur is an active
member of the Ernabella Uniting
Church. Her father was one of the early
key leaders and elders in the Ernabella
congregation.
Makinti said her community feels it
is being pushed around by federal and
state governments and believes it is
being systematically disempowered.
This is an edited version of her story.
The full text is available on the Uniting
Church SA website.
FOR MANY years, we have been
suffering the effects of government
strategies of extreme delay in service
delivery. We are badly affected by
the imposition of inappropriate and

ineffective systems of administration
and governance. We are held back by
a lack of thoughtful, respectful and
culturally aware consultation and
planning between us Anangu, and
governments and their agents — on
whom, unavoidably, we depend. All of
these things put an almost intolerable
burden on our wellbeing and our
capacities.
Today, there are lots of bad stories
in the newspapers and on television
about the problems in our communities.
We are worried about a lot of these
problems. But we also know that a lot
of strong things are happening because
we have set up our own programs.
Nowadays, our community of
over 600 Anangu has a school that
goes from Pre-school to Year 12 and
employs 12 Anangu education workers
who teach in all classes and speak our
Pitjantjatjara language, which is still
strong. We have an Anangu Tertiary

Education Program (AnTEP), which
runs in partnership with the University
of South Australia, to train Anangu
for work in schools, clinics and other
community jobs. Anangu Education
Services (AES) administer educational
affairs all across the Anangu
Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands
and houses our own Pitjantjatjara
Yankunytjatjara Education Council
(PYEC). We have a TAFE campus
that provides education for men and
women in business skills, building and
carpentry skills and a clinic, which
employs Anangu assistant staff.
We also have an Aged Care Respite
Centre where 16 frail tjilpis and pumpas
from across the APY Lands live and
are cared for close to their country. The
centre also provides hot meals twice a
day for some older people living in our
community.
Our independently incorporated
art centre, Ernabella Arts, is the

About your letters

Some letters have been held
over till the next issue.
THE ACC
I WAS privileged to be a
part of the inaugural meeting
of the Assembly of Confessing
Congregations (ACC) on October
13 and 14.
The thing that struck me was
the attitude shown towards
the Uniting Church by all who
spoke at the ACC meeting. All
showed a love of and deep
commitment to the Uniting
Church.
There was no talk of working
against the Uniting Church, but
there was a sense of grief, and
the understanding that decisions
made by the last two national

NOVEMBER 2006

Please keep your letters short — about 150 words is ideal.
Longer letters will be cut or rejected.
You’re welcome to email letters to newtimes@sa.uca.org.au
or they can be posted to us at
GPO Box 2145, Adelaide 5001

Assemblies had worked to take
the Uniting Church away from
its life source and foundation
– the Scriptures and a true
understanding of the person
of Jesus Christ, who loves the
Church enough that he gave his
life to start it.
For close to 10 years I have
felt a deep grief for the Uniting
Church and have questioned
whether I could remain in it.
The ACC has given me hope for
the Uniting Church, and at last
I feel I belong.
Robyn McKay
Peterborough

THE ACC
I CONFESS my allegiance
to the One God who is Love,
creator of all things.
I confess my faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ, Son of God, as the
one who perfectly reveals the
love and intention of God for
human life.
I confess Jesus Christ as my
saviour, because he saves me
from the bitterness, judgement,
rejection and death called
sin, which is the fruit of my
own and other’s deficient and
defective love.
I confess my dependence
upon the Holy Spirit of God for

oldest in Australia and has operated
continuously for 58 years. It is known
all around Australia and around the
world. The Pukatja Community Council
owns and operates its own community
store and garage. The Community
Council is an elected Anangu council
which governs the Pukatja community,
working cooperatively with other
community organisations.
At Pukatja we have achieved many
things because Anangu have been
involved in the organisations we have
set up. All these achievements make us
proud, but we don’t get to read about
them in the newspapers because people
want to tell bad stories about our
communities. Maybe so they can come
and take over.
We don’t understand why the Federal
Government doesn’t listen to us if
they really want to solve some of the
problems in our community.

the ability to see, understand
and strive to live the life I see in
Jesus Christ.
I confess my consternation
at an attitude that elevates a
theological conviction above
Saving Grace and proclaims a
“true church” within a church to
trust in ecclesiastical legislation
that has not been considered
necessary in our previous
history.
I confess my sorrow that so
much energy has been devoted
to defining what might divide
me from my Christian brothers
and sisters and the wideness
of God’s family, and so little in
identifying how the Spirit of
God would have me embrace his
family as he embraced me.
I hear the prayer of Jesus for
the unity of humankind in the
Godhead (John 17:21-23) and I
confess it breaks my heart.
Rev Dean Pearce
Kingswood

WORLD AIDS DAY
WORLD Aids Day (December
1) gives us the opportunity
to reflect with care and
compassion on those afflicted
with AIDS.
After two decades of research
there is still no known cure.
The annual Surveillance
Report “HIV/AIDS, viral
hepatitis and sexually
transmissible infections in
Australia” has constantly stated
that men with a homosexual
lifestyle continue to make up 80
per cent of the people diagnosed
with HIV/AIDS in Australia.
Have the churches, medical
and educational professions
become so duty bound by
political correctness that they
cannot or will not state the
truth?
Bill Chandler
Ringwood
Letters continued page 8.

NEWS

New Times

5

Doing it like Jesus
OUR CHURCH has been encouraged to undertake
holistic mission by “doing it like Jesus”. That
was one of the many messages delivered by
Ann Morisy, an urban mission consultant and
researcher with the Church of England.
Ann conducted a series of seminars in
Adelaide as a guest of the Urban Mission
Network. The seminars focussed on ministry
challenges in city based-congregations, suburban
congregations, disadvantaged communities and
transitional communities.
In her final seminar, Contemporary
Christianity: Confronting the issues of our day,
Ann challenged congregations to take on the
task of public theology as well as community
ministry.
Ann said that, as our world has become more
global, society and governments have accepted
profit, power and status as dominant values.
“Christians need to demonstrate and perform
different values in order to work for the common
good,” she said.
“The nature of our offering is gloriously
straightforward. We need to push other values at
a local level – by acting as Jesus would have.
“Jesus lived his life in a very distinctive and
consistent way.
“He actively took steps to strip himself of
power. He continually subverted the status quo.
He encouraged wide ‘fraternal relations’, avoided
tit-for-tat behaviour and invested in the most
unlikely people, whom others had written off.
“The values and practices of Jesus are so
extraordinarily appropriate for our world.

“We need to practice and perform these
alternative values.
“We aren’t called to do everything as Jesus
would have done – God’s grace will flow
whenever we offer an alternative performance,
regardless of how modest.
“We don’t need to leave community ministry
behind, but must recognise that we have earned
the right to speak on a public platform.
“There are more values in this world that are
effective, other than profit, power and status.”

Where the people are

Ann Morisy encourages city congregations
to think in terms of “people flows”, rather than
communities. And she:
URGES city congregations to capture the
attention of people passing by, and to offer
those people a memorable encounter, so they
are more inclined to linger.
CHALLENGES congregations to develop a few
specialty areas of ministry which they will be
recognised for – for example, a church that is
open for 24 hours where homeless people can
sleep.
BELIEVES the church underestimates the
huge resource it has in older experienced
members who possess high calibre education
skills, alertness and creativity.
ENCOURAGES congregations to be more
“playfully risk-taking”.
Ann is the author of two books, Beyond
the Good Samaritan (1997) and Journeying
Out (2004).

Myponga helps meet the shortfall
MYPONGA Uniting Church
members have responded
generously after learning about
the shortfall in the Uniting
Church SA’s MSF, (Mission and
Service Fund).
The 15 member congregation
has donated the entire proceeds
from their annual Labour Day

garage sale, $1,500.50, to the
MSF. Myponga congregational
chairperson Ian Fowler said
that, after receiving a letter
earlier this year about the
church’s considerable budget
shortfall, the congregation
decided unanimously to
support the MSF.

“In the past we’ve always
used garage sale proceeds to
maintain our church property,
but this year we didn’t need
the money ourselves,” he said.
“We realise our contribution
is only a drop in the bucket,
but hopefully every little bit
helps.
“We’ve been told our
donation will boost the
church’s Grant in Aid Fund.
“Members are delighted that
we will be helping small rural
churches affected by drought
that are struggling to maintain
their ministry.
“The average age of our
members is 66, and every year
we ask ourselves if our garage
sale will be the last.
“We’ll just have to wait and
see if we can do it all again
next year.”

.30% p.a.

NOVEMBER 2006

6

MAGAZINE

New Times

Has ecumenism lost its punch?
Lindsay Faulkner
MENTION the word ecumenical, and a glazed look comes
over the face of the hearer. It has not always been so. When
I was a young student this was the new buzz word because
the World Council of Churches (WCC) had just begun to have
an impact on our Christian witness. People like John R Mott
and D T Niles were everywhere quoted and read.
In this atmosphere the Australian Council of Churches
was born along with State based councils like the South
Australian Council of Churches (SACC). Now they seem
to have lost their punch. We have moved into our
union, and though we call ourselves the Uniting Church,
union has proved to be less of a paradise than we had
envisioned. Some denominations like the Baptists and those
Presbyterians who did not join us have pulled out of the
SACC and have not rejoined. This new generation of young
Christians have less interest in institutional structures and
more interest in action like the Micah Challenge and Make
Poverty History.
Faced with this reality and its own need, the SACC has
called for a year of prayer and reflection to discover where
the Spirit of God is leading us in our relationship with others
who profess Jesus Christ as Lord. We have called it “Working
Together Towards a Spirituality of Ecumenism”. It is our
hope that you will join in this venture and follow with us to
where the Spirit of God leads us in our shared future of both
reflection and action.
The prevailing image of the past 50 years has been that
of physical union, denominations joining together as one
church. In Canada, the United Church of Canada was born
in 1926, in India, the Church of South India in 1948 and our
own Uniting Church in Australia in 1977. Other examples
around the world could be cited.
In this new century such movements towards a physical
union may not be the way forward. Perhaps we need to
change our image from Uluru, one big Rock to Kata Juta,
many Rocks in mutual relationship, honouring each others’
journey with The Christ and respecting each other’s ministry
and mission without seeking to become One Big Church.
This is but one suggestion, one image, over this coming
year. We invite you to reflect with us, to pray with us, to
seek with us and maybe, just maybe, the Holy Spirit will
lift the glazed look from our eyes and fire us anew with the
vision of the City of God as seen by the seer in Revelation
7:9 – “After this I looked and there before me was a great
multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe,
people and language, standing before the throne and in front
of the Lamb” (NIV).
Top left: Rev Lindsay Faulkner, pictured, is the Uniting Church
representative on the SA Council of Churches executive.
Left: Pictured at last month’s launch of “Working Together Towards
a Spirituality of Ecumenism” are the council’s interim manager,
Geraldine Hawkes, and Uniting Church Moderator, Rev Graham
Vawser.

act for the
christmas bowl

give • freecall 1800 025 101
www.ncca.org.au/cws
NOVEMBER 2006

MAGAZINE

New Times

7

Religion promotes peace
Nicholas Kerr
RELIGION doesn’t promote terrorism, prominent British Imam,
Dr Abduljalil Sajid, said in Adelaide last month. It promotes
peace. “The public perception is that religion divides, religion
kills,” he said. “This idea has been used for propaganda – but
it isn’t true. Religion is a source for motivating people to do
good – for charitable work, for voluntary work, for helping
others. Religion is a force for good. Society should appreciate
this.”
Imam Sajid is originally from Pakistan. He has worked for
more than 35 years towards the cause of peace, harmony
and justice in the UK, Europe and elsewhere. He is known
as a scholar and activist for community bridge building and
interfaith relations in Britain.
Australia has a special role in working for peace, he said.
“Australian people can show the world our common humanity
and our common human values, so that we all live in peace
and harmony, respecting each other in all our diversity, which
is God’s creation.
“Christians have a pivotal role in this. They’re godly people.
They not only fear God but they try to understand God’s
attributes in our practical life, through the life of Jesus Christ.
They try to implement Jesus’ message of love and care to the
wider world.
“Jesus said to love your neighbour – and your enemy. We
all need to embrace that message. We need to realise that
we’re all human beings. We need to look to our inner selves
and realise that every human being is special, created in God’s
image.
“Our lives need to reflect that – that everyone is the image
of God, whether we’re black or white, Aboriginal or Asians or
Arabs. We need to appreciate this God given diversity. This is
a missing dimension in today’s world.”

Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid, pictured, spoke at a public meeting in Adelaide last month. It was sponsored by
Initiatives of Change and St Paul’s City Ministry.

A warning against racism
THERE ARE two kinds of racism, Imam Sajid
said. “There’s a crude racism based on colour.
And there is a cultural racism.
“Jews didn’t suffer in Europe because their
colour was different. They were religiously
and culturally different. Their eating habits,
their language, their prayer life, their dress
code were all different. They were a distinct
community. That’s why they were persecuted.
That’s why some tried to eliminate them
forever. Thank God humanity came together
and condemned this. We don’t want it to
happen ever again.
“But unfortunately certain communities
are still facing cultural racism. Muslims
are facing a difficult time because of their

distinct nature. Muslims pray differently,
wear different clothes, have some distinct
languages and eating habits.
“The same patterns we saw in the 1930s
are repeating themselves in various parts of
the world.
“We need to educate ourselves. When
we look at another person we need to ask
ourselves: Do we really want them to look
like the majority of us? Do we really want
our God given diversity to prevail in the
world?
“Do we say the flowers in the garden
should all be the same colour to make
the garden more beautiful? To me it’s the
difference that makes the garden beautiful.”

Peace vigil

Maya and Lisa lit candles during a 24 hour peace
vigil in the Sanctuary@Scots Church last month.

SEVERAL inner city churches joined
together to host a 24 hour peace vigil at
Scots Church on the International Day of
Peace – Thursday 21 September.
Scots Minister Rev Judith Gilliland said
the vigil was part of a global spiritual
observation for peace to demonstrate the
power of prayer and other spiritual practices
in promoting peace and preventing violent
conflict.
People were invited to the Sanctuary@
Scots to offer prayers, light a candle,
meditate, make a peace flag and talk about
peace.
The vigil was supported by Pilgrim,
Maughan and Brougham Place Uniting
Churches and St Paul’s City Ministry.
NOVEMBER 2006

8

PEOPLE AND PLACES

Letters continued from page 4.
LOCAL ELECTIONS
AS CHRISTIANS, we
have a political and social
responsibility that proceeds from
our faith in Christ to engage
in the community. The local
government election gives us
an opportunity to exercise this
responsibility.
I want to encourage members
of the UCA across the state to
vote in their local government
election. The ballot pack will
be sent to voters from Monday,
October 23, to Friday, October
27, and needs to be returned by
Friday, November 10.
Your vote expresses your
view about who should give
leadership in your community.
(Rev Dr) Phil Marshall
Tea Tree Gully
APPRECIATION
TWO recent events organised
by members of the Uniting
Church in the South East
call for both recognition and
appreciation.
Christine Hurst in 2005
and Winsome Hunt in 2006
were members of the 10 day
Christmas Bowl fundraising trip
to Cairns and Mossman. They
both found it a rewarding and
enjoyable time and were keen
to make it possible for others
in 2007 to share in a similar
experience.
Chris set up a meeting at
Reedy Creek near Robe for
the Combined Ladies Guild,
attracting people from far
and wide from numerous
denominations.
Winsome arranged a similar
function through the Probus
Club at Keith.
As chair of Christian World
Service, which is responsible for
Christmas Bowl, I was invited
to speak at both gatherings and
wish to express my thanks to
Chris and Win.

New Times

These functions were
wonderful examples of ACT
– Action of Churches Together
– with Christians of different
traditions cooperating in support
of a project designed to bring
assistance and relief to people in
Developing Countries.
(Brother) Trevor Dean
Adelaide
CHRISTIAN INPUT
THERE has been heated
debate regarding the place of
Christianity in public schools.
Some schools have banned
Christian input of any kind for
fear of being seen to favour one
religious group over another.
Under the guise of tolerance,
we are increasingly eliminating
God in many of our schools.
Casey Pritchard, the chaplain
at Westbourne Park Primary
School, in collaboration with
the Westbourne Park Uniting
Church, is bucking this trend.
Over the past three terms the
entire school (421 students), has
been invited to participate in a
programme that has linked the
school values with what Jesus
had to say about life.
About 50 children have
joined on each occasion for
fun, food, games and craft with
a deliberate and child friendly
gospel message.
Our church has been involved
in an Easter presentation and
we are very excited about
supporting Casey in her work in
the school community.
We are excited about
strengthening our links between
the children of this community,
their families and the church.
This is mission in our own
backyard.
I encourage all church
communities to look at how they
could network with chaplains
in their local schools and work
alongside them to spread the
good news about Jesus.
Beryl Hunter
Westbourne Park

Children and families benefit
CHILDREN and families in Adelaide’s north western
suburbs are benefiting from a unique program
designed to strengthen and support young families.
“Communities for Children” is a national
initiative of the Commonwealth Government.
UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide was the initial
facilitating partner of the project in South Australia.
The mission was allocated $3.4 million over four
years to support young families in the northwestern metro area.
The mission’s Communities for Children manager
Jan Chorley said a major initiative has been the
establishment of an integrated Early Years Team
based at Seaton Park Primary School.
“We decided to focus on the Seaton area as it
is an area of high need, with many disadvantaged
young families.
“We have a team of skilled practitioners
providing home visits, playgroups focusing on
childhood development, services to support
mothers suffering post natal distress and an early
development program for children with disabilities.
“We’re making great inroads and achieving great
results for hundreds of young families.”
The program involves several partners including
the Queen Elizabeth and the Women’s and
Children’s Hospitals.
Neighbouring Seaton Uniting Church is also

involved, with church members assisting play
and craft groups. The church will also help with
a series of ‘Family Nights’, two of which will be
held in the church hall.
Minister Angie Griffin said part of the church’s
ministry involves making connections in the
community.
“It’s all about building relationships,” she said.
“We would be very happy if young children and
their families begin to see that the church has a
place in their lives.”

UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide Communities for
Children manager Jan Chorley (far right) and Seaton
Uniting Church minister Angie Griffin (second on left)
mixing with some of the families on the Communities
for Children program

Climate change is a hot topic
Jenni Price Hughes
CLIMATE change is on the lips
of all of the media. People in
the Uniting Church are talking,
too.
Recently people of all
ages and from more than
15 different churches came
together to see the film,
“An Inconvenient Truth”.
A combination of startling
stories, an abundance of
research, and the visual impact

of climate change on regions
of the globe, shocked the
audience out of complacency.
It is not only about the
beautiful regions of our globe
and wildlife that are quickly
disappearing, but also about
the imminent humanitarian
crises that accompany climate
change.
There are simple everyday
responses to climate change
– things like turning off lights,
only heating and cooling the

areas of your house you are in,
driving less, walking more and
using less hot water.
Or why not switch to green
power, energy efficient light
bulbs or water-saving devices?
With summer heat rising,
remember not to turn your
thermostat to freezing
temperatures. The Australian
Conservation Foundation
says just one degree on your
thermostat can reduce your
energy consumption and
greenhouse pollution by 10 per
cent.
Did you know that 10 per
cent of Australian household
electricity goes on standby
power? Just by turning your
appliances off at the wall
you can cut your greenhouse
pollution.
Start asking your politicians
and local councillors what
they are doing in response to
climate change. Every little bit
makes a difference!
Many Uniting Churches
have groups forming to think
seriously about these issues
and what actions to take. The
Uniting Church recently made
a submission in response to
the SA government’s Climate
Change and Greenhouse
Emissions Reduction Bill
(available on the MRN website).
We need to get involved with
the current debate and remind
people that “The earth is the
Lord’s, and everything in it, the
world, and all who live in it”
(Psalm 24:1).
You can join the Solidarity
and Justice e-network by
emailing Jenni Price Hughes,
jennih@sa.uca.org.au.

“SEEING a young child open a present
is one of the great joys of life,” Jay
Weatherill, Minister for Families and
Communities, said last month.
He was launching UnitingCare
Wesley Adelaide’s Christmas hamper
and toys appeal.
The Minister packed the first hamper
– and thanked all who will help to
provide hampers and toys for people in
need in South Australia.
The launch was attended by
sponsors and supporters, together with
volunteers and staff of UnitingCare
Wesley Adelaide.
The appeal is to raise funds that will
provide Festive Food Hampers for 1300
disadvantaged families and about 1500
gifts for children who would otherwise
go without a Christmas present.
UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide needs
$50,000 before Christmas.
People receiving a hamper include
those who are experiencing hardship

through poverty, family breakdown,
social isolation, disability, domestic
violence and other issues.
For some families this food may
be all they have in their pantry over
Christmas.
“Now not only will I have the first
good Christmas in a long time but
so will my family,” one woman said.
“I now have enough food to have a
family Christmas.”
A father of two said, “My girls now
need not know that I am struggling
because they will receive toys from
‘Santa’ and we will all have a better
Christmas than expected. This will be
the start of a better future for us.”
A UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide
spokesperson said that in South
Australia many people struggle to pay
for essentials.
“Throughout the year, these families
demonstrate courage, care and
commitment, despite limited resources

and often in the face of great
adversity.
“These hampers will bring joy to
each family and daily struggles and
financial worries will be forgotten
for a while. Food will be on the table
and families will join in festivities.
“Christmas cake, mince pies,
pudding, tinned ham, bonbons and
special treats will be welcome gifts.
Imagine the delight on a child’s face
as they open their special Christmas
present.
“Please help South Australians
rediscover the joy, love, peace and
hope of Christmas. There is still a
long way to go and every dollar
counts.”
At the launch, Kym Just
announced a donation of $10,000
from AMP Foundation, matching
dollar for dollar the combined gifts
from Portfolio Partners and ING
Investment Management.

Ian will be new minister at Adare

WHAT’S ON?

REV IAN Kitto will be the new minister at Adare
Uniting Church from January next year. Ian has
been ministering to the Loxton Uniting Church
in the Riverland for the past six years.
Rev Trevor O’Brien will complete his term of
interim ministry at Adare at the end of December

For a list of Uniting Church events, visit
Uniting Church online www.sa.uca.org.au
and click on “What’s On”. There is also an online form
which you can fill out to contribute notices to Notebook.

and will then retire from active ministry.
Rev Dr Rodger Bassham has also assisted
Adare with ministry during its time of waiting
for a more permanent appointment.
- Lynn Miell

Group Life Insurance Agencies
Advisers for the Lutheran Group Salary Continuance Plan
Dave Shrowder is a member of Golden Grove Lutheran Fellowship

New Times
UCAF officers. Speaker will be the
Moderator, Rev Graham Vawser.

For more Uniting Church events,
visit Uniting Church online
www.sa.uca.org.au and click on
“What’s On”. There is also an
online form which you can fill
out to contribute notices
to Notebook.

ABOUT 500,000 young people
are expected to take part in
World Youth Day, sponsored by
the Catholic Church, in Sydney
in July, 2008. Organisers have
launched a competition for an
inspirational song. Details are at
www.wyd2008.org.

THE UNITING Church SA’s
“Year of Call” task group and
Parkin Wesley College are keen
to hear what young people (16
to 30) think about ministry
as a career. Encourage your
young people to complete an
online survey at http://www.
cra.org.au/faithfuture/. For
more information contact Craig
Mitchell on 8416 8428 or email
craig.mitchell@flinders.edu.au.

JERUSALEM Uniting Church
(Kadina-Wallaroo Parish) will
celebrate 50 years in its present
building on November 12. Past
members are invited to the 11am
service and to view a memorabilia
display. At 2.30pm the Adelaide
Plains Male Voice Choir will
perform in the Kadina Uniting
Church.

COPIES of the A4 booklet,
“Getting Away with Murder:
Impunity for those targeting
church workers in the
Philippines,” are available upon
request to the International
Mission desk. The booklet details
human rights abuses suffered by
The United Church of Christ in
the Philippines. Contact lyn@
sa.uca.org.au.
THE 2006 Christmas Bowl
Badge Day in the city and most
suburbs will be held on December
15. You are encouraged to put
together a team from your church
or to volunteer individually to
sell badges on that day either in
the city or in your own locality.
Please contact Julie Wright, SA
Council of Churches office, phone
8221 6633, email sacc@picknowl.
com.au, if you can help.
THE VINES Uniting Church,
Woodcroft, invites you to attend
the commissioning service
of Mrs Kathleen Stringer as
UCAF (Uniting Church Adult
Fellowships) SA president on
January 21, 2007 at 9.30am,
and the dedication of incoming

THE ANNUAL Mission
Thanksgiving Service will be
held at Scots Church, North
Terrace, at 10.30am on Tuesday,
November 28. Eldrene March
will speak about “Young
Ambassadors for Peace”. This
service is an opportunity for
Fellowships and individuals to
make their thanksgiving offering
for missions and the work of the
wider church.
WILLUNGA Uniting Church
will host its fourth annual
Christmas tree festival this
month. The festival is made
possible by the generosity of
local individuals, community
groups and businesses who
exhibit decorated trees. The trees
can be viewed on Saturday,
November 25, Sunday, November
26, Saturday, December 2, and
on weekdays by appointment.
Devonshire teas or light lunches
provided for groups. For
bookings contact Jan Strout,
8556 2088.
START the Christmas season
in style at Nunyara, 5 Burnell
Drive, Belair, on November 12,
with jazz from Liz Chehade and
theatre from Carnival Night

Shakespeare from 5.30pm. BYO
picnic from 5pm. Buy coffee,
gelati and sausages. Tickets, $10
adult, $8 concession, $25 family,
under 12, $5, under 5 free. Phone
Blackwood Uniting Church, 8278
7699.
A FESTIVAL of Hymns and
Sacred Music will be held at St.
Andrew’s by the Sea, Glenelg,
on November 12 at 2.30 pm.
Gold coin donation. Led by
Mount Barker District Concert
Band, Mount Lofty Singers,
Philip Griffin (tenor), Brass Souls
(quintet), Barry Wilkins OAM
(musical director) and compere
Dominique Schwartz. Enquiries,
8295 1771.
LE FEVRE Peninsula Christmas
Fair will be held daily from 10am
to 6pm from Friday, November
17 to Monday, November 20,
at St Luke’s Hall, 84 Hargrave
Street, Peterhead. Inspirational
gifts, music, and books from
Word Bookstore as well as many
secondhand Christian and other
books, “as new” gifts and crafted
cards. Enquiries 8268 4427
A MONTH long Make Poverty
History campaign will close
with Australia’s top musicians
performing at the Make Poverty
History concert on November 17,
immediately before the G20 in
Melbourne on November 18 and
19. SA details are listed at www.
makepovertyhistory.com.au
A CD by Rob Wight, “From
the heart,” will be launched on
Sunday, November 19, at 2.30pm
at Flinders St Baptist Church, 65
Flinders Street. Cost $15, $10
concession. Includes performances
from Rob Wight and Tamra
Renton, piano, Bernard Hull,
tenor; Inspire Singers and Matty
Owen, trumpet. Tickets available
at the launch or from Kath Jones,
phone 0413 944 706.
GLENUNGA Uniting Church, at
the corner of Bevington Road and

Telling stories about an innovative, growing church which is proclaiming
Jesus Christ and is empowered by the Spirit to transform God’s world.
Who we are: New Times is a monthly tabloid news magazine serving the Uniting Church SA. It is published 11 times a year with a
combined January-February issue. New Times is a member of the Australasian Religious Press Association. It has won the Gutenberg
award for excellence in religious publication. Its editor has won the same award for excellence in religious communications.
Advertising: To advertise contact Russell Baker, phone 8361 6822, fax 8361 6865, email ribad@bigpond.com
New Times accepts advertising in good faith. Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement.
Deadlines and distribution dates: December issue: Closing date for contributions, Wednesday, November 8, distributed, Sunday,
December 3.
Subscriptions: New Times is distributed free to Uniting Churches in SA. You can also subscribe and have New Times posted to you.
Subscriptions cost $30 if you are within SA, $35 if you are interstate, $40 if you are overseas.
Submitted material: New Times does not take responsibility for returning submitted photographs or other material.
Our partners: Many of our readers support New Times by making a gift to help us keep up with our costs. Gifts can be sent to us at
GPO Box 2145, Adelaide, 5001.
Distribution: We are distributed on the first Sunday of each month.
Opinions: Opinions expressed in New Times do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the policies of the Uniting Church.
Editor: Nicholas Kerr. Assistant: Jo Watts.
New Times is designed by Edi Leane and Les Colston of Joie Creative, PO Box 29, Kent Town, SA 5071 and printed by Cadilac, 64 Kinkaid
Avenue, North Plymton, SA 5037

Deadline
NOVEMBER 2006

DECEMBER 2006 issue: Deadline for contributions, Wednesday,
November 8. The issue will be distributed on Sunday, December 3.

L’Estrange Street, Glenunga, will
celebrate its 80th anniversary on
Sunday November 26, There is
an open invitation to a special
10 am service, followed by lunch
and an afternoon of fellowship
with past and present members.
Enquiries, Rev Don Purdey,
phone 8338 6081.
ROCKLEIGH Carols in the Bush
will be held at the Rockleigh
Uniting Church on Sunday
November 26, at 6.30pm. It is
a popular event in the Eastern
Hills and people linger over the
country supper afterwards. BYO
chairs. “Mud maps” are available
from the Murray Bridge Uniting
Church, Barbara on 08 85 387060
or pymton@bigpond.com.
TEA TREE Gully Inter Church
Christmas Tree Festival, “Colours
of Christmas,” will be held at
St Johns Lutheran Church, 182
Hancock Road, on Thursday,
November 30 to Sunday
December 3. Hours are Thursday

to Saturday, 9.30am to 5pm, and
6.30 to 9pm, Sunday 11.30am to
5pm. Entrance cost, $2, children
under 12, free. Supporting
Christian pastoral support workers
(school chaplains).
AN EXHIBITION presented
by Bruce Emsley, “Soundscapes:
Capturing the beauty of the
Australian landscape,” is now
showing in the foyer of the
Presbytery and Synod Office,
Level 2, 212 Pirie Street. The
exhibition will run until the
end of November. Orders taken.
Enquiries to Heather Bald, 8236
4243.
A DVD of highlights from the
Uniting Church’s 11th Assembly
in Brisbane is now available,
$10 each (including GST and
postage) for single copies and $6
each (including GST and postage
and handling) for orders of three
or more copies. Contact Daniel
Taranto in the Assembly office on
(02) 8267 4206.